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PHOTOS: Clinton's life and career

“There’s no official release date yet, but I’m thinking sometime within the next couple of years — 2016 or before,” the hot indie director told POLITICO in his first interview since signing onto the film. “The timing has nothing to do with presidential election cycles, it’s just the cycle of the movie. I didn’t come on to the movie to wait 10 years to make it.”

Ponsoldt is coming off two critically-acclaimed movies — “The Spectacular Now,” which will be nationally released later this summer following a much buzzed about premiere at Sundance, and “Smashed,” which won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing at 2012’s Sundance.

Ponsoldt says he knows that Rodham will no doubt receive even more attention that his previous work.

“The movie will be scrutinized in a way few films are,” he said, pausing before adding, “kind of like her.”

No word yet on who will play Hillary, but Ponsoldt said it won’t be Meryl Streep, since the movie focuses on a young Hillary. (Bill has said he thinks Streep should portray his wife.) Ponsoldt said that “the phone is ringing off the hook” with actors’ agents interested in the part.

“We’re meeting with a number of actresses. Everyone’s throwing in their own two cents. Everybody thought Meryl Streep would play Hillary, but this follows a young Hillary. It’s a tough part. A physical resemblance is helpful, but more importantly the actress has to be believed that she is the smartest person you’ve ever met and one of the most driven and ambitious — in a good way,” Ponsoldt said.

“As for Bill, he’s also the smartest in the room — and most charismatic,” he added. “What’s so exciting about this story is it highlights a point in her life as an individual, she was a political superstar. She was someone Bill pursued. She didn’t pursue him — he pursued her.”

“Rodham” is being produced by Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of Temple Hill, which backed the “Twilight” films — and Richard Arlook of The Arlook Group. Screenwriter Young Il Kim, a Hollywood newcomer, told POLITICO they’re looking to cast the role of Hillary before approaching studios for financing.